A commercial building is only as durable as its roof. If the roof has problems, the entire structure of the building could be harmed. For this reason, every owner of a commercial building should know as much about commercial roofs as possible. The following article looks at the various types of commercial roofs and the potential problems that could occur.
Types
Several different types of roofing materials are available for commercial buildings. Most of these are suited to flat roofs, which are more common on commercial structures than residential homes.
Spray Polyurethane Foam, or SPF, is an environmentally-friendly material that is sprayed onto the roof as a liquid. The liquid expands and ultimately creates a hard surface that does a great job of protecting the building from the elements. A great advantage of SPF roofing is that it can last up to 50 years if installed properly. Another benefit is that the material is seamless, making it less susceptible to leaks.
Single-ply membrane roofing is made from various synthetics, such as ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, or EPDM. It forms a solid barrier against the elements and is then fastened to a flat roof. A third option for flat roofs is silicone coating. The roof must be in good shape, however, to apply this material.
If your building has a pitched roof rather than a flat roof, then you have the option of choosing materials that are often seen on residential homes, such as metal roofing and asphalt shingles.
Damage
Commercial roofs should be checked for signs of damage at regular intervals. If damage is not caught at an early stage, expensive repairs could be required at a later date. In addition to the obvious signs of water leaking into your interior or water stains on the ceiling, one of the most conspicuous signs of trouble is ponding water, which indicates that water is not draining off the roof properly. Cracks and tears in the roofing materials and loose fasteners are also signs of trouble. Loose flashing where pipes and other objects penetrate the roof, can also let water get past the roof and into your building.
When you notice any issues, have them repaired as soon as possible before things get worse.
Vents
It's vitally important that a commercial roof is vented properly. If a roof has poor venting, then heat buildup could cause issues such as mold growth and a decreased lifespan for the roofing material. It could also lead to increased energy bills when your air conditioning must work harder to compensate for the excess heat in the building. If you suspect that your venting is inadequate, make sure to have a professional make any repairs, as it's not a do-it-yourself job.
To learn more about roofs for commercial buildings, contact a commercial roof repair contractor in your city.
After struggling with the appearance and structural integrity of my home, I realized that I had to do something to make a difference. I realized that part of the issue had to be the roof, since the home had been in my family for years and nobody had ever addressed the roof before. I met with a roofing team to talk about the problem, and they were instrumental in helping me to get things sorted out. After a few renovations, things had really improved, and I felt like things were on the up and up. I wanted to start a blog that focused on finding roofing for your home, so check out this blog.